Sports

Broncos roster decisions next up on agenda after Super Bowl loss

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin, left, hauls in a reception during the first quarter while Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey tries to catch up in Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Now come some tough decisions.

In short order, the Broncos must make decisions on whether to bring back several key players such as free agents Eric Decker, Knowshon Moreno, Zane Beadles, Mike Adams and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. They must also address high-priced veterans under contract such as Champ Bailey.

And the Broncos are also expected to work out a contract extension with coach John Fox.

Super Bowl embarrassment notwithstanding, Fox has won three AFC West titles in three seasons.

Next season will be the final year of his contract. Fox will turn 59 on Saturday but said he feels better and has more energy than he did in the sixth months before his heart surgery Nov. 4.

Elway's take. The question was inevitable. Did John Elway, the Broncos president of football operations, see comparisons between Sunday's loss and his three blowout losses in his first three Super Bowls?

"No, those are separate," he said.

Elway's explanation for what went wrong: "We just didn't play like we're capable of. I was disappointed. Hopefully we'll learn from this. It started tough. We just couldn't seem to get it going."

Elway agreed that the Seahawks took the momentum early and the Broncos were unable to get it back.

"I don't have all the answers, but I've got to imagine that had something to do with it," he said. "We just couldn't get in the end zone and really couldn't get it going."

Miller "wins" signing bonus. When Broncos linebacker Von Miller was found in violation of the league's drug policy, he was suspended six games and forfeited $806,161 of his 2013 salary as part of a settlement reached between the NFL and players union lawyers.

The Broncos understood Miller would also have to pay back $1,215,264 of his $13,773,000 signing bonus he received in 2011 as the NFL's No. 2 overall draft pick, as part of a collective bargaining agreement.

The settlement between the league and Miller's representatives, however, made no mention of the signing bonus. An independent mediator heard the case, and both sides have been informed Miller will be able to keep a little more than $1 million of that bonus but not quite the full $1.215 million, according to two NFL sources. Such an "award" may be unprecedented as suspended players ordinarily have to pay back prorated portions of upfront bonuses.

Cole was signed to replace the injured Chris Harris before the AFC championship game against his former New England Patriots. Cole didn't dress for that game as he only had three practices with the Broncos.

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